join us as we discuss today's most critical global issues. join us for great decisions. >> great decisions is produced by the foreign policy association- inspiring americans to learn more about the world. funding for great decisions is provided by the carnegie corporation of new york, the starr foundation, shell international, and the european commission. great decisions is produced in association with the university of delaware. >> and now from our studios, here is ralph begleiter. >> welcome to great decisions. i'm ralph begleiter. joining us to discuss russia and its neighbors are nina kruscheva, professor of international affairs at the new school university. and william sweet, a journalist at the ieee spectrum and great decisions 2010 briefing book author. thanks to both of you for being with us. >> thank you. >> you know, for decades after the end of the cold-- at the end of world war ii, the theme of international relations was moscow versus washington. and here in the united states these days, i think a lot of people forget russia eve